Meet The Team

Rick Ament, FACHE

Chief Executive Officer

Rick Ament is a Board-Certified healthcare executive with more than 35 years of leadership experience across governmental, academic, rural, and behavioral healthcare settings. He began his career as a hospital executive in the United States Air Force.

Rick spent the majority of his career leading rural community hospitals, where he is widely recognized for driving transformation and operational improvement in complex environments. He successfully led two major hospital turnarounds as Chief Executive Officer and later served as Market Vice President overseeing 11 rural hospitals across a four-state region. One of the hospitals under his leadership was honored as the Hospital & Health Networks (H&HN) Turnaround Hospital of the Year, reflecting his ability to restore performance while maintaining a focus on quality patient care.

Driven by a strong commitment to serving Veterans, Rick was the CEO of two VA Medical Centers until he retired in 2023. During the COVID- 19 pandemic, Rick led the Jesse Brown VAMC in Chicago. This academic medical center maintained a medical staff of more than 750 providers, and was affiliated with three medical schools, training approximately 1,700 medical and nursing students annually. Under his leadership, the organization served more than 62,000 Veterans annually including comprehensive behavioral health services and specialized support for approximately 1,400 homeless Veterans.

Following his retirement from federal service, Rick continued his focus on behavioral healthcare where he is now Chief Executive Officer of Miramont Behavioral Health in Madison, Wisconsin. Throughout his career, he has remained actively engaged in the advancement of healthcare, serving on the boards of multiple state hospital associations and contributing to academic advisory committees. His leadership is defined by strategic vision, service excellence, and a deep commitment to expanding access to all patients.

Shara Bacher, MBA

Chief Financial Officer

Shara Bacher is an accomplished finance leader with 20 years of experience in healthcare, pharmaceutical development, and professional services. As Facility CFO at Miramont Behavioral Health, she oversees financial operations, budgeting, revenue cycle performance, regulatory compliance, and strategic financial planning.

Throughout her career, Shara has led high-performing teams and driven financial initiatives that improve operational efficiency, support organizational growth, and strengthen fiscal performance. She holds an MBA in Finance and is dedicated to using data-driven insights to support exceptional patient care and long-term organizational success.

Sara Newhart, MSN, RN, CPHQ

Chief Nursing Officer

Sara Newhart is an accomplished healthcare executive and nursing leader with more than a decade of experience in behavioral health, acute care, patient safety, quality improvement, and nursing operations. As Chief Nursing Officer at Miramont Behavioral Health, she provides strategic leadership for nursing services, clinical quality, workforce development, and patient care excellence.

Throughout her career, Sara has led multidisciplinary teams across behavioral health hospitals, healthcare systems, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, driving improvements in patient outcomes, staff engagement, regulatory compliance, and operational performance. She is recognized for her servant leadership approach, commitment to evidence-based practice, and passion for developing high-performing teams. Sara holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa and is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ).

Aaron Foss, MS

Director of Admissions

Aaron Foss is a behavioral health leader with experience in admissions, clinical assessment, risk management, and patient safety. As Director of Admissions at Miramont Behavioral Health, he oversees the admissions process and works closely with patients, families, and clinical teams to ensure timely access to appropriate behavioral health services.

With a background spanning counseling, crisis intervention, quality improvement, and healthcare operations, Aaron is committed to delivering a compassionate and seamless patient experience. He holds a Master of Science in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling from Troy University.

Charlotte Machalik, MSW, LCSW

Director of Clinical Services

Charlotte Machalik is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, and community-based services. As Director of Clinical Services at Miramont Behavioral Health, she provides leadership for clinical programs, supporting high-quality, evidence-based care and positive patient outcomes.

Throughout her career, Charlotte has led multidisciplinary teams across inpatient, outpatient, residential, and medication-assisted treatment settings. She is passionate about fostering clinical excellence, supporting staff development, and helping individuals find hope, healing, and lasting recovery through compassionate, patient-centered care.

Simran Arora, MS, LPC-SUD

Director of Outpatient Services

Simran Arora is a behavioral health leader and licensed professional counselor with more than 15 years of experience in mental health and substance use disorder treatment. As Director of Outpatient Services at Miramont Behavioral Health, she provides leadership and oversight for outpatient programs, supporting high-quality, patient-centered care and clinical excellence.

Throughout her career, Simran has served in leadership roles across community behavioral health, healthcare organizations, and state government, including the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. She is passionate about expanding access to evidence-based care and helping individuals and families achieve lasting wellness and recovery.

Lance Moran, MS, R.Ph.

Director of Pharmacy

Lance Moran is an experienced pharmacy leader and healthcare executive with more than 36 years of experience in pharmacy operations, clinical services, regulatory compliance, and healthcare administration. As Director of Pharmacy at Miramont Behavioral Health, he oversees pharmacy and medication management services, partnering with interdisciplinary teams to support safe, effective, and evidence-based treatment for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.

Throughout his career, Lance has led pharmacy departments across diverse healthcare settings, from large medical centers to rural hospitals, while also bringing extensive experience in business leadership and organizational development. He holds degrees in Medical Microbiology and Pharmacy, as well as a Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration, Pharmacy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Go Badgers!

Tarron Ivory

Director of Plant Operations

Tarron Ivory is an experienced facilities and operations leader with expertise in healthcare facility management, life safety, regulatory compliance, and capital project management. As Director of Plant Operations at Miramont Behavioral Health, he oversees facility operations and environmental services to ensure a safe, efficient, and healing environment for patients and staff.

He holds an MBA, is a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM), and is Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified. His background includes leadership roles in healthcare and mission-critical facilities where he has successfully improved operational performance, enhanced compliance, and led major facility improvement initiatives.

Derrick Patenaude

Director of Quality & Risk Management

HIM Supervisor, Chief Equity Officer, Compliance & Patient Safety Officer

Derrick Patenaude is a healthcare leader with more than 15 years of experience in behavioral health, patient safety, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. As Director of Quality and Risk Management at Miramont Behavioral Health, he leads performance improvement and quality initiatives that support safe, effective, and evidence-based patient care.

Throughout his career, Derrick has held leadership roles in behavioral health, rehabilitation, and acute care settings, specializing in infection prevention, accreditation readiness, risk management, and process improvement. He is committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement, clinical excellence, and exceptional patient outcomes.

Laryssa Grissom, MSW

Manager of Utilization

Laryssa Grissom is an experienced behavioral health professional specializing in utilization management, care coordination, and medical necessity review. She works closely with clinical teams and insurance providers to ensure patients receive appropriate, timely, and effective behavioral health services. Laryssa holds a Master of Social Work from Southern Illinois University.